Hyderabad
The present-day Hyderabad originally had Golkonda as the nucleus and was ruled by the Eastern Chalukya dynasty followed by the rule of Kakatiyas and subsequently by various Sultanates. Sultan Quli, a governor of Golkonda, revolted against the Bahmani Sultanate and established the Qutb Shahi dynasty in the early sixteenth century. The famous Charminar and Mecca Masjid were built during their rule. From then it went to the Mughals till Asif Jah established his independent rule named the region Hyderabad Deccan, and started what came to be known as the Asif Jahi dynasty.
Rambagh, Attapur Hyderabad
Rambagh is a locality in Attapur of Hyderabad. It is not far off from the heart of Hyderabad or Golkonda the origin of Hyderabad. Today one has to pass through Rambagh to reach the international airport of Hyderabad. Attapur has many temples as old as 500-600 years or even more. From the temple architecture in this area predictably, these temples date back to the Qutb Shahi period. The architecture of many of the Rajagopuram is that of south India.
Temples in Attapur and nearby
While there are many temples in and around Attapur, the oldest among them are the swayambu Sri Sri Laxmi Narasimha Swamy Temple and Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple. Both these temples are located on a hillock. Both the Lords are swayambu in that the identity of the deity can be known only by looking closely. These two deities were probably under worship from the Eastern Chalukya period say a thousand years back. The later rulers built temples for these Lords. The architecture of the temple tank seen in Sri Anantha Padmanabha temple could easily be said to be of the Qutb Shahi period.
Temple Complex
The temple is located in Rambagh, just off the PVNR Expressway. The road opposite pillar No 161 of the Expressway will lead one to the temple. One encounters the main gate which has a Qutab Shahi-style archway with huge wooden doors.
On the left side, there is a huge ‘go-shala’ which was once a dharmasala [wayside rest house]. On the right is a newly built quarters for the pujari and a newly built Sri Hanuman temple. Once you reach the entrance to the main temple, there is a huge covered hall standing on pillars intervening between two main deities. On the left is a hillock in which Sri Anantha Padmanabha dwells and on the right is Dasa Janmejayan Hanuman also known by the name Kala Hanuman sannidhi. Two trees dominate this main hall and in one of the trees, there is a board which describes the history of this temple.
These two deities were probably under worship from the Eastern Chalukya period say a thousand years back. The later rulers built temples for these Lords. The architecture of the temple tank seen in Sri Anantha Padmanabha temple could easily be said to be of the Qutb Shahi period.
Sri Anantha Padmanabha temple Complex
On the left is the hillock in which Swaymbhu Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy dwells. A few steps up one comes across a doorway to the temple then a huge stone dwaja stambham is seen. At the next level on the opening, one could see the naga pradeshta, Sri Maha Lakshmi, and Sri Hanuman deities. Further up, there is a stone mandapam and a sannidhi for Sri Srinivasa, and on the right side could be found. The other doorway will lead to the Sanctum of Swaymbhu Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy.
Have darshan of swaymbhu Sri Anatha Padmanabha Swamy. The vimanam above the Sanctum of Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy is in line with the rajagopuram above the sanctum of Sri Kala Hanuman. From the Sanctum Santorum of Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy, one could visualize the Janmejayan Hanuman sannidhi.
From the opening, one could see the stone-faced temple tank with steps called koneru in Telugu. A lot of tortoises are found to be residing in this tank, and they come out of the water for basking in the Sun. The other side of the tank pujari’s quarter is seen.
Sri Dasa Janmejayan Hanuman Sannidhi
After having the darshan of the main deity of this temple one can come down to have the darshan of Sri Dasa Janmejayan Hanuman. Sri Hanuman of this kshetra is known as Dasa Janmejayan Hanuman since worshipped by Janmejayan. He is more popularly known as Kala Hanuman since the vigraha is made of black granite. Back at the main hall Sri Hanuman sannidhi is the main attraction.
The entrance to Sri Hanuman sannidhi is through a strongly built mandapam with granite-laid flooring. This mandapam has a collapsible door on the first and a wooden door on the other side. There is an opening in the center of the roof where hangs a bell. This mandapam is the base of the rajagopuram.
As one steps forward of this mandapam towards the sannidhi there is a small inner mandapam, from where one can have the darshan of the Lord. Then there is inner space for pujari for performing pooja then the Sanctum Santorum of Sri Anjaneya.
Sri Dasa Janmejayan Hanuman
The black granite stone vigraha of Sri Dasa Janmejayan Hanuman is about seven to eight feet in height. Lord is seen in standing posture and having darshan of Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy. Lord is facing the direction of the South.
Lord's lotus feet are fully and firmly on the ground and Nupuram and thandai are seen adorning the lotus feet. Lord is wearing an ornament on the hip. His broad chest is adorned with sacred thread and two beaded garlands [mala]. He has His lotus hands folded and palms joined in revered ‘anjali mudra’, towards Lord Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swami and holding japa mala. His lotus hands are wearing kankan on the wrist, and keyur on the upper arm. Lord is also wearing an ornament known as bujavaliam on His shoulders. He is wearing studs and a ring in his ears. The tail of the Lord could be seen rising till the head and ending with a small upward curve.
There is shanku and chakram on both sides of the Lord.
Location of the temple: "Anantagiri Kala Hanuman Temple, Rambagh Colony, Attapur, Hyderabad, Telangana"
Experience
The Lord of this kshetra who had been worshiped by Sri Janmejayan doing meditation of Rama nama, is standing tall, to grant His devotees all dharmic prosperity.
SRI HANUMAN THINKS DIFFERENTLY, THINKS FAST
THINKS AHEAD AND ACTS FOR SURE
Ed [February 2019]
Updates: [Jan 2025]